Asteroids in comet-like orbits (ACOs) consist of asteroids and dormant comets. Due to their similar appearance, it is challenging to distinguish dormant comets from ACOs via general telescopic observations. Surveys for discriminating dormant comets from the ACO population have been conducted via spectroscopy or optical and mid-infrared photometry. However, they have not been conducted through polarimetry. We conducted the first polarimetric research of ACOs. We conducted a linear polarimetric pilot survey for three ACOs: (944) Hidalgo, (3552) Don Quixote, and (331471) 1984 QY1. These objects are unambiguously classified into ACOs in terms of their orbital elements (i.e., the Tisserand parameters with respect to Jupiter TJ significantly less than 3). Three ACOs were observed by the 1.6-m Pirka Telescope from UT 2016 May 25 to UT 2019 July 22 (13 nights). We found that two ACOs, Don Quixote and Hidalgo, have polarimetric properties similar to comet nuclei and D-type asteroids (optical analogs of comet nuclei. However, 1984 QY1 exhibited a polarimetric property consistent with S-type asteroids. We conducted a backward orbital integration to determine the origin of 1984 QY1 and found that this object was transported from the main belt into the current comet-like orbit via the 3:1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. We conclude that the origins of ACOs can be more reliably identified by adding polarimetric data to the color and spectral information. This study would be valuable for investigating how the ice-bearing small bodies distribute in the inner solar system.
We present three transits of GJ 1214b, observed as part of the Apache Point Observatory Survey of Transit Light Curves of Exoplanets (APOSTLE). By applying Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques to a multi-wavelength data set which included our r-band light curves and previously gathered data of GJ 1214b, we confirm earlier estimates of system parameters. Using spectral energy distribution fitting, mass-luminosity relations, and light curve data, we derived absolute parameters for the star and planet, improving uncertainties by a factor of two for the stellar mass (M_*_=0.153^+0.010^_-0.009_M_{sun}_), stellar radius (R_*_=0.210^+0.005^_-0.004R_{sun}_), planetary radius (R_p_=2.74^+0.06^_-0.05_R_{earth}_), and planetary density ({rho}_p_=1.68+/-0.23g/cm^3^). Transit times derived from our study show no evidence for strong transit timing variations. We also report the detection of two features in our light curves which we believe are evidence for a low-energy stellar flare and a spot-crossing event.
The Apache Point Survey of Transit Lightcurves of Exoplanets (APOSTLE) observed 11 transits of TrES-3b over two years in order to constrain system parameters and look for transit timing and depth variations. We describe an updated analysis protocol for APOSTLE data, including the reduction pipeline, transit model, and Markov Chain Monte Carlo analyzer. Our estimates of the system parameters for TrES-3b are consistent with previous estimates to within the 2{sigma} confidence level. We improved the errors (by 10%-30%) on system parameters such as the orbital inclination (i_orb_), impact parameter (b), and stellar density ({rho}_{sstarf}_) compared to previous measurements. The near-grazing nature of the system, and incomplete sampling of some transits, limited our ability to place reliable uncertainties on individual transit depths and hence we do not report strong evidence for variability. Our analysis of the transit timing data shows no evidence for transit timing variations and our timing measurements are able to rule out super-Earth and gas giant companions in low-order mean motion resonance with TrES-3b.
The Apache Point Survey of Transit Lightcurves of Exoplanets (APOSTLE) observed 10 transits of XO-2b over a period of 3yr. We present measurements that confirm previous estimates of system parameters like the normalized semi-major axis (a/R_*_), stellar density ({rho}_*_), impact parameter (b), and orbital inclination (i_orb_). Our errors on system parameters like a/R_*_ and {rho}_*_ have improved by ~40% compared to previous best ground-based measurements. Our study of the transit times show no evidence for transit timing variations (TTVs) and we are able to rule out co-planar companions with masses >=0.20M_{Earth}_ in low order mean motion resonance with XO-2b. We also explored the stability of the XO-2 system given various orbital configurations of a hypothetical planet near the 2:1 mean motion resonance. We find that a wide range of orbits (including Earth-mass perturbers) are both dynamically stable and produce observable TTVs. We find that up to 51% of our stable simulations show TTVs that are smaller than the typical transit timing errors (~20s) measured for XO-2b, and hence remain undetectable.
For 7255 stars this catalog lists all values of the apparent and absolute radii from the literature. Data were compiled beginning 1950 up to 1985, including some data from 1986 and 1987. The catalogue was ordered by identification by HD number or BD number followed by variables with constellation names in alphabetical order, followed by other abbreviations. The HD and BD numbers were given priority 1 and 2 respectively over the other identifications. Hence variable stars can be found under the name of the constellation only when HD and BD numbers are lacking. The apparent magnitudes and spectral types are those reported by the authors, as they are basic data used in some methods for obtaining the stellar diameters.
We measure apparent velocities (v_app_) of the H{alpha} and H{beta} Balmer line cores for 449 non-binary thin disk normal DA white dwarfs (WDs) using optical spectra taken for the European Southern Observatory SN Ia progenitor survey (SPY). Assuming these WDs are nearby and comoving, we correct our velocities to the local standard of rest so that the remaining stellar motions are random. By averaging over the sample, we are left with the mean gravitational redshift, <v_g_>: we find <v_g_>=<v_app_>=32.57+/-1.17km/s. Using the mass-radius relation from evolutionary models, this translates to a mean mass of 0.647^+0.013^_-0.014_M_{sun}_. We interpret this as the mean mass for all DAs.
